Multiple rack for pool balls



C. l. HOLMES Dec. 14, 1937.

MULTIPLE RACK FOR POOL BALLS Filed Sept. 19, 1956 I N VENTOR. ad j fiQ/me:

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 14, 1937 UlTE-D STATES MULTIPLE BACK F r L BALLS Charles I. Holmes, Chino, Galifl, assignor of onehalf to Gilbert E. Pine, Ghino, Calif.

Application September 19, 1936, Serial No. 101,636 2 Claims. (01. -2'73-10) This invention relates 'to a multiple rack for pool balls and to an improved multiple gate to cooperate with said rack .for the purpose of releasing the balls supported thereby in a more rapid and convenient manner.

An object of the invention is to provide a simplified and otherwise improved pool hall rack construction which is arranged in such a manner that a number of players may have their balls segregated and yet whenever a game has been completed all the balls may be released into a common receptacl'eby the attendant, in a more satisfactory manner, and replaced in position for playing another game.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved multiple gate construction whereby pool balls may not only be quickly released from a number of different runways at the same time, but said gate will also be so constructed and arranged that it will release additional unused balls from a pool ball container sothat not only the balls which have been used in playingagame but also additional balls supported by said container may all at the same time be delivered into a basket or other receptacle used by the attendant.

The invention further relates to a simplified construction for a multiple pool ball release member, said member being positive in its operation and capable of being manufactured at a relatively low cost.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated which can be readily attached to and removed from pool ball tables now in general use. The invention,

, however, is not limited to the use of a device attachable to such a table, .but the pool. ball supporting and delivering means provided therefor may be attached to other articles of furniture or to a wall if desired; or the device may be independently constructed without departing from the scope of the claimed invention.

Still other objects, advantages and features of the invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates what is at present deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a pool table showing the device attached thereto, a portion of the view being sectioned on line l! of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2is'a view showing a portion of the pool table in elevation with the greater portion of the device sectioned on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the ball receiving structures, a portion of the ball releasing directed end portions I whereby the face plate gate, which cooperates with said container, be ingshown in transverse section.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in detail, to the pool table 5 is attached an upstanding rectangular frame 6, said frame having,'as shown in the drawing, an upper ball opening 1 and lower ball opening 8 in each side thereof; these openings being between the cross arms or supports 9 and having downwardly 10 H of the frame is secured to its back' plate I2. Said frame is open at its top and bottom.

Secured at each side of said frame-6 are two inclined ball racks l5 and I6, said racks being in the superposed, parallel relation shown with their lower ends resting upon and attached to the aforesaid arms 9 and positioned to deliver the pool balls to the ball openings 1 and 8 through the sides of the frame 6.

Within said frame 6 is mounted a vertically movable multiple gateqlil, made of sheet material bent into abroad channel shape, which is furnished with operating handles or knobs 2| by which it can be lifted to an open position simultaneously to open the four ball'openings 1 2D and :8 already mentioned. Said knobs *2! .are furnished with shanks 22 which are secured to the body portion of gate 20, said shanks traveling in vertical slots 23 furnished for them in the front plate ll of frame 6. The lower ends of said slots cooperate with said shanks to arrest the downward gravitating of the gate.

The gate 20 is furnished at each side with an upper arm 20a and a lower arm 20?), said arms respectively arresting the descent of the balls from the upper rack l5 and lower rack 16 at each side of the device. As shown in Fig. 2, these arms result from the arcuate recesses out into the edge of each side of the channel shaped gate. Said arms are formed as part of the sheet metal piece of which the ball gate as a whole is composed.

The upper arm 20a has an arcuate lower edge to facilitate release of the balls when the gate is lifted, and the lower arm 20b is preferably similarly shaped along both its upper and its lower edge. A semi-circular ball delivery opening is thus provided between said two arms. Below the arm 20a the gate is furnished with a deflected spout portion 4! to aid in delivering the discharged balls to the container 26. The upper portion of said spout part 4| is desirably cut away at 42 along a curved line to continue the curved lower side of the lower gate arm 20b, the circular opening thus formed being somewhat larger than the pool balls to be delivered there-through. The spout portion 4| is furnished at one side with an apron 43 which normally prevents escape of the balls from the container 26. Said container is slightly inclined and in the lower portion of its bottom has a delivery opening communicating with a short discharge spout 44. The container 26 is preferably contracted throughout its discharge portion as shown in Fig. 3, where an inclined guide wall 45 is shown to direct the pool balls toward the lower delivery portion of the container. A bracket 46 is shown as a means for securing the container to the lower portion of the pool table.

In Fig. 1 the basket 4'! used by the attendant to collect the balls is indicated in dotted lines in a position to receive the pool balls discharged from the spout 44, said spout serving to deliver not only the balls 50 released from the four racksl and IE but also other balls 5| which may be reserved Within the container 26.

Various means may be employed for attaching thedevice to a pool table or other support. In the drawingthe back plate l2 'of the device is shown secured to the pool table 5 by means of two upper angularly shaped arms or brackets 30 and two similarly shaped lower brackets 3|, one of these brackets preferably being attached to each corner portion of said plate by screws 32, wood screws 33 being shown for securing the foot portions of the brackets to the table.

As already stated, the lower ends of the inclined ball racks l5 and I6 rest upon and are secured to the supports 9 of the frame. At their upper outer ends said racks l5 and iii are shown supported by plates 35 to which said racks may be secured by means of pins or screws 36.

In order to lessen the sound and prevent rebound when the pool balls descend against the main central frame 6, pads 31 are attached to the gate armsllla and 201) as shown.

Owing to the fact that the ball release arms 20a and 20?) have lower edges which are arcuate at about the same curvature as the balls to be released, said gate is less apt to mar the balls than it would be if it had a straight lower edge contactable only with a very narrow zone of each ball being released.

I claim:

1. In combination, a pool table, an upstanding frame mounted externally upon said table, said frame having ball openings in opposite vertical sides thereof, an inclined rack adjacent to each of said ball openings to direct balls thereinto, a

multiple gate within said frame'operable to simultaneously open a plurality of said openings to allow a plurality of balls to gravitate into said frame, said gate having a downwardly directed spout portion to discharge the balls released as aforesaid at a lower level, a return ball container which extends in a generally horizontal direction and which is mounted upon the table in such a position that said spout normally extends downwardly thereinto into a position to intercept balls resting upon the bottom of said container, said container having a ball discharge opening in one end portion of the bottom thereof through which balls within said container tend to gravitate except when intercepted by said spout, and means to raise said multiple gate from its normal ball intercepting position thereby to discharge simultaneously balls from a plurality of aforesaid racks and from said return ball container, all the discharged balls passing through said bottom opening of said return ball container.

2. In a device of the kind described, a ball delivery device comprising a plurality of ball supports and a multiple gate operable with upward and downward movements simultaneously to release balls from a plurality of said supports, said gate having a downwardly directed ball delivery guide, and a ball container having an inclined bottom with a ball discharge opening through which balls are directed by said guide and towards which said balls roll along said inclined bottom, said guide operating also as a release means to deliver balls from said container through its said discharge opening, a portion of said guide intercepting the balls in said container when said gate is down.

7 CHARLES I. HOLMES. 

